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The Haunted Librarian

~ Researching, investigating, and writing about the paranormal.

The Haunted Librarian

Category Archives: Artists

“Fairy Skull” Jewelry—Pure Magic!

16 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Artists, Artwork, Funerary Jewelry, Uncategorized

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Mourning rings, Shinji Nakaba

carved-pearl-skulls-vanitas-shinji-nakaba-fb__700
carved-pearl-skulls-vanitas-shinji-nakaba-2
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“Fairy Skull” Jewelry—Pure Magic!

Japanese artist, Shinji Nakaba, creates “wearable sculptures.” Since 1974, Nakaba has sculpted one-of-a-kind, made-to-order jewelry made from common items, such as clothing pins, to precious gems, stones, and metals. His smallest creations are called “Fairy Skulls.”

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Nakaba practiced on a lot of other materials before settling on pearls. He found that pearls were easy to carve his miniature skulls called “Vanitas,” Latin for “vanity,” resembling 16th and 17th century funerary art.

“Mourning” rings were popular from the 16th century until the early 1900s. Although poor people were unable to afford such jewelry, the middle-class families would begin saving for these sentimental tokens. Wealthy families handed out engraved rings to funeral service attendees. The rings served as a reminder of the deceased. The practice ended with the commencement of the First World War; there were just too many dead soldiers returning home to sustain the tradition. For some, the reminder was too much to bear.

These “Fairy Skulls” are gentle reminders of our dead ancestors, as well as, the imaginary creatures who may exist. Nakaba titles and signs each skull; therefore, beware of fakes sold on Etsy, as he does not sell his skulls there.

The Tokyo-based artist ships internationally. His website provides instructions on the piece you seek. For more information and to peruse his collections, see http://s-nakaba.shop-pro.jp/.

 

“Yarn Darling” Shanell Papp Loves Knitting and the Macabre

14 Friday Jun 2019

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Artists, Artwork, Historic Places, Horror Movies, Hotels & Motels, Uncategorized

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Lab #4, Lab (Skeleton), The Shining Banff

ShanellPapp_01
Shanell
Gurney

“Yarn Darling” Shanell Papp Loves Knitting and the Macabre

Shanell Papp’s upbringing fostered an interest in death and the macabre. She spent part of her childhood on a farm where she took part in caring and slaughtering the animals. Down the street was a cemetery. That alone provided ample content for her artistic endeavors. Her grandmother, owner of a thrift store/flea market, taught Papp how to knit and to crochet. Papp’s 2008 labor-intensive show Lab (Skeleton) was an instant hit and still discussed ten years later.

Papp, born in 1980, was enrolled in an MFA (Master of Fine Art) program at the University of Saskatchewan (Canada) when she began to crochet the life-sized skeleton. It took 4 months to create. Add another 4 months to create and to assemble the internal organs, and Lab (Skeleton) was born—much like Frankenstein’s Monster, a huge influence on Papp’s work.

Creating anatomically correct crochet skeletons is labor-intensive. Papp refers to medical textbooks, visiting college classes, and looking at real skeletons to maintain the accuracy in each piece. She even purchased a gurney to hold one of her creations. Papp says her art is an act of “patience, skill, and commitment.” She sees the pieces as conversation starters. Once completed and installed, Papp enjoys walking amongst the crowd and watching their reactions.

“Lab #4” depicts a skeleton on a table draped with a white tablecloth. The life-sized skeleton is made with yarn and thread and is crocheted and sewn together. It was created in 2006.

shining-banff

In 2013, Papp created “The Shining/Banff” comparing different rooms from King’s Overlook Hotel with one of the Banff Hotels. Needless to say, The Shining is one of Papp’s favorite horror movies.

To see more of Papp’s work: https://shanellpapp.com/

Frida Kahlo’s The Deceased Dimas Rosas at 3 Years Old

02 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Artists, Artwork, Catholic Church, Famous People, Memento Mori, Museums, Painting, Photography, Uncategorized

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death bed portraits, deceased dimas rosas, frida kahlo, memento mori, postmortem photography, victorian mounring photography

frida

Frida Kahlo’s The Deceased Dimas Rosas at 3 Years Old

Death bed portraitures were a Mexican tradition. These works of art predisposed postmortem photography. The “Angelitos” were dead children who were free of sin. Paintings of these deceased children, usually between the ages of 1-5, were posed to appear alive. The memorial portrait survived the child; it was the only visual memory remaining. Celebrated Mexican artist Frida Kahlo also painted “Angelitos,” death portraits of children.

Painting death portraits seems fitting for Frida, as she suffered physically and mentally throughout her life. At the age of 6, Frida contracted polio, a horrible disease causing her to walk with a limb. Further, at the age of 19, Frida suffered permanent damage to her torso from a bus collision. This accident precluded her from having children. In addition to these physical maladies, Frida endured an open marriage to famed artist, Diego Rivera; political upheaval; and periodic confinement in her home “Casa Azul.” Frida was well aware of death—possibly her own impending death at the age of 47.

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Memento mori were paintings or photographs depicting dead people as if they were alive. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “memento mori” as literally meaning “remember you must die.” Although these “Angelitos,” or Little Angels, paintings celebrated the life of a child by capturing his or her death, the tradition is not related “Day of the Dead.” It is merely another reminder of how life and death are celebrated in Mexico.

The Mexican tradition goes back to the 16th century. It blends the Mexican tradition with Catholicism. Wealthy families would hire an artist to paint the dead children sleeping. It was popular; however, it was costly. Once photography became more widespread and cheaper, it replaced portraiture paintings.

dimas

In 1937, 3 year old child Dimas Rosas became ill. His mother, Delfina, was the housekeeper for Diego and occasionally modeled for him. Diego was the child’s godfather. When Dimas’ condition worsened, Diego tried to persuade the mother and father to take him to a doctor. Instead, they took him to a village witch doctor. Unfortunately, he died. Frida posed the boy in clothing to honor St. Joseph. He is surrounded by flowers, especially marigolds which are a popular “Day of the Dead” bloom. A picture of Jesus Christ as “Lord of the Column” lays on the lace white pillow. He holds a gladiola while resting on a palm leaf mat. All of the things mean something—they represent religious and cultural iconography. A lot of thought went into this painting.

Frida completed the 18 ¾ x 12” oil painting on Masonite, a favorite medium of hers. For some unknown reason, the painting was not given to the family. Instead, it was named “Dressed Up for Paradise” and exhibited in the Julien Levy Gallery in 1938. Next it went to the Art Museum of Philadelphia as “Boy King.” Then owner Somerset Maugham found out about the subject matter and gave it back to Frida. The painting was then given to Frida’s main benefactor, Eduardo Morillo Safa. He, in turn, gave it to Dolores Olmedo where it sits in the Dolores Olmedo Museum in Mexico City. Currently, it is on loan to the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is unknown when the name changed; however, it is based on the inscription Frida left on the painting. While Victorian mourning photography is plentiful online and in private collections, these postmortem paintings are difficult to locate. If given the chance, head to The Dali. It is worth visiting and seeing this incredible piece of art.

The Wonderful Talking Board, Part 1

10 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Artists, Artwork, Famous People, Ghost Hunting, Paranormal, Paranormal History, Radio Show, Toys & Games

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Tags

archer paranormal radio, haunted librarian, norman rockwell, ouija board, paranormal history

The Ouija Board

The Ouija Board

The Wonderful Talking Board, Part 1

Nothing divides a room than a discussion about playing with the Ouija Board. On one side sits the ardent not-in-a-million-years group. On the other, the occasional player. Where do you fall?

America was in a frenzy with the rise of Spiritualism in 1848. Spiritualism was compatible with Christian ideology. Séances were en vogue. Mediums enjoyed a celebrity type status. A simplified planchette was manufactured and sold across the country. However, a savvy businessman saw the potential to make millions.

The man who brought Ouija to the masses was in it for the money. Kennard Novelty Company patented the Ouija Board (Patent Number US446054 A) in 1891. Ironically, in order to receive a patent, the company had to demonstrate that the board actually worked. The Ouija Board game was introduced as a parlor wooden board game in the early 1900s—right as interest in the afterlife was growing. It was priced at $1.50 and consisted of a wooden board and wooden planchette.

Where does the name originate? Despite numerous stories, the name is not a combination of the words “Yes” and “No.” The most likely source of the name comes from co-founder Elijah Bond’s sister-in-law Helen Peters, a medium in her own right. Peters asked the board what it wanted to be called, and the response was “Ouija”—loosely translated as “good luck.” Dig a little deeper and you learn that Ms. Peter’s was sporting a locket containing the picture of women’s rights activist Ouida. Hmm.

Norman Rockwell

Bernice Bobs Her Hair, Norman Rockwell, May 1, 1920.

The Ouija Board was a mainstream activity in homes. Norman Rockwell added one in his May 1, 1920 illustration for The Saturday Evening Post. Polite society sat in their parlors and attempted to communicate with the dead. All hands would lightly rest on a teardrop-shaped planchette. A question would be called and mysteriously the planchette would move to reveal an answer. The answer may come in the form of a “yes” or a “no.” Or the spirit may spell out the answer one letter at a time. Or indicate a number. This process of deciphering a message from beyond the Veil could take hours. And many waited.

By the time the Kennard Novelty Company sold the game to Parker Brothers in 1967, the game turned into a multi-million dollar business. All was good until 1973 and The Exorcist. The sole factor in how a seemingly harmless parlor game turned into the portal of evil rests squarely on one motion picture. The Exorcist is loosely based on one pre-teenage girl (in real life it was a boy) who played with the Ouija Board and let loose the Devil. Parker Brothers was sold to Hasbro, current owner of the game. Since the movie’s premiere, the great divide on where people stand on the board has widened. Ouija Board games are ceremoniously burned with the likes of Harry Potter. Pat Robertson warns that demons can reach us through the board. Church leaders denounce the usage. The board game became spooky. But is it really? “Good-Bye.” For now…

Tune in Thursday, March 20th

16 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Artists, Books, Disasters, Famous Locations, Farms, Ghost Hunting, Live Paranormal, Media, Paranormal, Prisons, Radio Show

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archer paranormal radio, atlanta prison farm, mh 370

Laundry at the Atlanta Prison Farm

Laundry at the Atlanta Prison Farm

This week on the Archer Paranormal Radio:

1. Abandoned in the ATL: The Atlanta Prison Farm. Is it haunted?

2. In the News: Conspiracy theories and lost airplanes. The latest on Flight MH 370.

3. There are a ton of paranormal books out there. What are the API Gals reading and what do they recommend?

Tune in to Archer Paranormal Radio every Thursday evening at 7 pm EST on www.liveparanormal.com.

 

New Orleans = ART

30 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Artists, New Orleans

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Ally Burguieres, Bead Dog, Galleries, georgerodrigue, new orleans, Wish Dog

Burguieres Gallery

The Burguieres Gallery where Ally displays her artwork.

New Orleans = ART!

Art is alive in the French Quarter. You can buy it in the galleries or on the streets. There is artwork everywhere. New Orleans is an artist’s dream because inspiration is all around you! I remember 13 years ago when I stumbled across George Rodrigue* and his Blue Dog. I’m still kicking myself for not purchasing that painting! Needless to say, Mr. Rodrigue’s artwork is beyond my budget; however, I did discover another working artist: Ally Burguieres.

I don’t know what I like more: the fact that she works at her gallery or that she earned a Ph.D. No matter. Anyone visiting New Orleans must stop in her gallery at 736 Royal Street. Ally and her mom Janice run the gallery along with an adorable dog, Cocoa. The gallery is as whimsical as Ally’s artwork. Further, Ally is also an inventor. She created the “Wish Dog,” “a small hand-made trinket that burns wishes with a trendy smoke-blowing effect.” Visit the Garden District to view her Bead Dog. Don’t let the implied simplistic nature of Ally’s art fool you. She’s got a lot of talent. Peruse her online gallery to see the depth of her work. Visit http://www.galleryburguieres.com/ to learn more about Ally.

* Mr. Rodrigue died shortly after my visit to New Orleans.

Bead Dog

The Bead Dog Ally painted is on display in the Garden District.

Bead Dog 2

Bella “walking” her Bead Dog.

 

 

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Archer Paranormal Investigations

The Haunted Librarian

Marietta, Georgia

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